Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-30
THE BDTTES.
The Wonderful For L alton Risi ng in the
Midst OF tine Sacramento Valley.

Midst OF the Sacramento Valley.
About twelve miles west of Gridley lies
what are called the Marysville Buttes, one
of these strange capriees of nature so
rarely seen in large valleys That their
origin is volcanic no doubt exists as all
the rocks of which they are composed are
plainly of igneous formation. Were they
formed by an upheaval the surrounding
country would have been carried up, and
the drainage would have been from them
to the lower plains. But such is not the
case. They lie in the trough of the valley,
and all the water for miles flows toward
them. In fact, the slope is very perceptible,
and for distance of five miles on the north
and west the grade of the country is
sleeper than any portion of the valley
away from the foothills or rolling lands
There are three peaks or cones, which
rise to an altitude of perhaps 1000 feet, and
are surrounded by foothills of perhaps 800
feet or more in hight. The foothills and
peaks occupy section of country cover
ing about 30 or go square miles, The
foothills are covered with grass. plentifully
studded with white oaks, and make ex-
cellent pasture, for which purpose they are
used. Many little valley are ON the slopes,
and when viewed through glass, look as
though they would make coy small farms
for citrus fruits, their altitude removing
them above the frost line. AS geology is
largely conjectural science, we will haz-
ard an opinion as to their formation. Some
weak spot was developed in the earth's
crust under where the Buttes at present
stand. There were three vents or escapes
THROUGH WHICH THE LAVA FLOWED,
And cooling formed the foothills, which.
weathering under the influences of rain
and changes of temperature, formed the
soil with which they are now covered,
aided by the scoria from the cones. IL is
well known that every volcano is the archi-
tect of its own crater. The ashes, scoria
and lava still continuing to be elected.
cooled on overflowing and gradually built
up the peaks to above their present hight,
as Nesuvius is known to have done; the
lava only being forced to the top of the
cone, cooled and closed the vent, and the
internal fires ceasing, the volcano was ex-
tInct. The process was, without doubt,
gradual and slow. The scoria and vol
canic ashes were worn away by the action
of the clements and the harder lava with
standing their erosion longer, now appear
as pinnaeles, forty or fifty feet high, when
examined through glass from the base of
the Buttes. They are the
MOST PROMINENT LANDMARK OF THE SAC
RAMENTo VALLEY,
And can be seen on a clear day from any
portion, and are plainly visible from this
citv When viewed from Gridley they
IN, he
the cones having that peculiar dark ap-
pearance. caused by the dense chaparral
with which they are clothed. The foothills
are not at all steep and can easily beaseend-
ed on horseback, but the cones stand at
greater angle, and would cause some steep
climbing and rough scrambling over the
large rocks, and hard pushing through the
brush with which they are covered before
their SUBMITS were attained They have
been often climbed, however, ladies even
accomplishing the feat.
FEATHER RIVER BOTTOMS.
To the eastward, two and one-half miles
distant, flows Feather river, one of the
tributaries of the Sacramento. The road
leading 70 1t Is one of the best in the State,
we'll rounded up and one side graveled for
a winter road. Feather river is crossed
by splendid public bridge the pride of
Butte county. and consists of but single
span of 800 feet, the longest in California
1t is built of wood, heavily and strongly
braced with iron, with easy grade APP
proaches, and looks almost as substantial
rs a railroad bridge. 1t was constructed
by the Pacific Bridge Company, and, like
all their work, has been thoroughly done.
Here are situated some of the largest I'M
irrigated alfalfa fields in the State. The
bottom lands are more than three miles
wide, and or them few miles below the
bridge are situated magnificent orchards.
The bottoms are depressed but few feet
below the adjacent country, and are rarely
overhowed, and then only for short time.
There are a few low depresSions in the
bottoms parallel with the river, which in
the higher stages of the river aid in carry
ing the water, but as the Feather river is
a mountain stream, rising and falling rap
idly, the water does not stand long enough
to injure the alfalfa. Those bottoms are
owned in larger tracts than the liye-oak
lands, the Ord ranch containing over 100.
acres, and because they are not as well
adapted to grain-growing as the surround
ing lands, are
NOT HELD AT As HIGH A FIGURE.
When their capabilities have been more
thoroughly tested, and hops and other
crops to which they are so well adapted
planted thereon We think values will be
reversed Feather river at this point is
scarcely more rapid than the Sacramento
is at this city, but the water is a great
deal more discolored. Like all streams in
alluvial soils, it is trying to shift its chan
mel, and abraiding Its banks, and short
distance below the banks workmen were
engaged in constructing restraining works.
Hanging from the bridge were several
lines, or ropes, about the size of ordinary
clothes lines, and iuquiring their use, we
were informed they were used for catching
sturgeon and catfish, the former being often
taken Of immense size. The natural growth
of trees on the bottoms is the same as on
the Sacramento-oak, sycamore, willow,
etc, and grapevines, and reminds one of the
Sacramento above this CITY The soil is